Meng Announces $1 Million in Federal Funds for Wastewater Epidemiology Training Program at Queens College

QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee – which funds the activities of the federal government – announced today that Queens College has been awarded $1 million in federal funding to help prepare students for careers in wastewater epidemiology, an emerging technology that can provide an early warning and insight into future pandemics.

The money will be used for the school to recruit minority science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students at Queensborough and LaGuardia Community Colleges for an educational and research training program established around wastewater-based epidemiology.

The initiative will take place at Queens College’s Wastewater Epidemiology Training Laboratory (WETLAB) – conceived and directed by Queens College Professor and Virologist John Dennehy – which works to detect dangerous pathogens in wastewater including coronaviruses, influenza, polio and monkeypox. Last year, Meng secured nearly $2 million for the WETLAB, which has also partnered NYC Health + Hospitals to test city wastewater for COVID and the flu. In addition, the WETLAB monitored wastewater at New York City wastewater treatment plants and provided its data to the NYC Departments of Environmental Protection and Health and Mental Hygiene.

“I am proud to have obtained crucial federal funding for Queens College’s WETLAB, and thrilled about this new effort to help students from underrepresented communities learn about this important and emerging field, and prepare for careers in it,” said Congresswoman Meng. “I look forward to this program launching soon, and continuing to see the WETLAB provide critical data that impacts public health in our borough and city.”  

“We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Grace Meng whose exemplary vision has helped the college remain on the forefront of virus detection in New York City,” said Queens College President Frank Wu. “Professor Dennehy has established himself as a leading expert on testing for COVID using innovative methods. His outstanding work will also benefit even more students who are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, so that they might join the ranks of scientists whose work can ultimately benefit all of society. This new grant supports the best of our efforts at Queens College as reflected in our motto—We Learn so That We May Serve.”   

"Queensborough Community College is excited to support our students with access to an academic program in wastewater-based epidemiology led by our dedicated faculty member, Dr. Monica Trujillo." said Queensborough Community College President Christine Mangino. "The more we can offer programs to our students that align with current workforce needs, the better prepared they are for emerging careers." 

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Queens College and Queensborough Community College on the development of an important new wastewater-based epidemiology training program, which has the potential to become a first line of defense against future pandemics,” said LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams. “This program will offer an exciting new pathway to a career in health care for our students, who will help protect our communities through their work. We are grateful to Congresswoman Meng for her stalwart support, and for the National Science Foundation’s generous funding.”

"The Queens College WETLAB is grateful for Rep. Meng's support, which helped us acquire funding to provide pathways to high-paying jobs for talented New York City college students while protecting the health and wellbeing of New York City residents," said Professor Dennehy.

“Clearly there is a lack of equity in the STEM fields for minority groups and women,” said Coprincipal Investigator Dr. Monica Trujillo, a Microbiologist and Professor of Biological Sciences and Geology at Queensborough Community College. “Our mission is to level the playing field so that more students in this population will pursue STEM majors and then successfully transfer to four-year colleges to study in a field that has some of the highest average paying salaries. There is real potential to change the current equation.”

“Wastewater-based epidemiology assesses the presence or quantity of a chemical or biological signal in a pooled sample of sewage, taken from the sewer network or wastewater treatment plant, to gain information on various aspects of public health,” said Coprincipal Investigator Dr. Olga Calderón, a Professor of Biology at LaGuardia Community College. “Concentrations of chemical or biological signals are measured to indicate drug or substance consumption patterns in a population or provide indicators of chemical exposures or illness. Other human biomarkers or biological signals such as viral RNA can indicate the level of disease or spread of pathogens within a population. Our program’s goal is to generate interest in wastewater-based epidemiology as a career option, thus enhancing U.S. pandemic preparedness. It will have ripple effects in different areas of society, such as water management, healthcare, public recreation and health, regulatory policy, science education, economic mobility for graduates of the program and their families.”

The program at Queens College will start recruiting trainees in January. The $1 million is allocated by through the U.S. National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency established by Congress in that supports science and engineering throughout the United States.

Queens College is located in Flushing, Queensborough Community College is in Bayside and LaGuardia Community College is in Long Island City.